A woman who endangered the lives of her neighbours by trying to set their block of flats on fire has been sent to prison.

A court heard the 34-year-old pushed a lighted cigarette through a letterbox in the block of 12 flats where she also lived.

Although she then poured water through the letterbox, the judge in the case said courts always take such crimes very seriously because of the danger to life.

Debbie Louise Miners, formerly of Hirst House, on Chapel Street in Tuckingmill, Camborne, appeared at Truro Crown Court for sentencing.

Prosecutor Nigel Hall said Miner had approached her neighbour Christopher English at around 10.30am on October 18 last year.

He said she appeared upset and said both herself and Mr English were ‘evil’. He returned to his flat but later Miners banged on the door and, when Mr English opened it, she tried to hit him. Mr Hall said Mr English restrained her although she broke his glasses.

Mr English then pushed her out and later left the building.

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The court heard that at around midday, another neighbour, Sarah Bayman, was looking out of her window and saw Miners smoking a cigarette. Mr Hall said: “She saw Ms Miners walk over and put the lit cigarette through the letterbox. of Mr English. She then went over to a flowerbed and took a bottle used for watering. She poured the contents of the bottle through the letterbox.”

Defence barrister Ramsay Quaife said Miners had already spent around eight months in custody since the offence and it was acknowledged that she had mental health issues.

He said she had been receiving help while in prison and was keen to get help from agencies in Cornwall. He adding: “She says she’s in a completely different place now. She’s attended a number of mental health lessons and groups but there’s only so much the prison can do.”

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Speaking to Miners, Judge Robert Linford said: “You did not know what was on the other side of that letterbox. If it had been a wad of paper or post, there could have been a fire and people could have died. Fire is dangerous and it takes lives. That is why the courts regard people who light fires or who try to light fires extremely gravely.”

He said he understood that she had a mental illness but said she must have known her actions were dangerous.